West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1887-04-29


protected. We have carefully read
the speeches of the railroad lawyers
as reported in the papers, and we
cannot believe any man is so simple
minded as to be misled by them.
If we only had the space we would
take these speeches, paragraph by
paragraph, and demonstrate the ut
ter absurdity of each and every
point that is made. For example:
They say, that local rates have been
reduced But is it not evident that
discrimination is as fatal to indi-
vidual enterprise when rates are low
as it is when rates are high. Hone
shipper is favored, his neighbor can
not compete with him. 1t is no an
swer to say that these discrlmlna-
tons do not exist. Ii they did not
exist the railroad managers would
not fight the law.
1t is said that the United States
Commissioners are in perpleXity
about the Interstate Commerce bill
There is not word o. truth in this.
The law is perfectly plain, and with
in the past few days they have made
publication which sets the matter
ut rest. The railroads hired news
papers to create false impression,
that it was difficult to understand
the law, but no one was deceived who
took the trouble to read it, The
L. =. Commissioner are authorized
to suspend the prohibition against
charging more for short than a
longer distance. The railroads con
tend that this prohibition should be
suspended in cases where n railroad
completes with water transportation,
and they hired the newspapers to
make a great clamor to influence the
Commission in this matter. The
Commissioners granted a suspen-
sion for 90 days in certain cases. and
they are now investigating whether
the suspension shall be continued.
There is not the slightest perplexity
or embarrassment as to any other
matter
The railroad attorneys again raise
in Charleston the same cry that has
oeen raised every time during the
past ID years when any one propos-
ed to protect the public against the
thieying practices OF INSCRIPTIONS
railroad officials. They say, that
the law will cripple railroad enter
prise. The answer Is, that railroad
bu;lding invariably increases after
such laws are passed. Such is the
experience in Massachusetts,. in
Georgia eud in every other State.
1t is mere empty assertion, which is
coutra,iicted bv experience, TO say
this law will brighten capital. In
roiut of tacl. those who have taken
IN, trouble To investigate the sub
iect know perfectly we'll that if this
law passes It will stimulate building
new roads in this State Capital
will not invest in any new road
which expects to tap either the b. Il
0. or the c. d O., and for the reason
that there is no guarantee that these
trunk lines will make reasonable
traffic contracts. Pass this law.and
roads will be built at once to every
part Of the State which offers a large
amount of business. This is mat
ter understood perfectly well by all
who have considered the subject.
The truth i the &. IL q. and the Il.
IL O. prevent the construction of any
new road that they will not control,
and consequently the development
of this State must wait the pleasure
Of Huntington, on the one side, and
Carrot on the other These railway
king, regard West Virginia as their
private property. They have pre-
vented legislation ever since the war
and our present condition demon
strates the unwisdom Of our past
conduct. II this law had been pass
ci twenty years AGO our railroad
mileage would he twenty times what
10 is. We have not the space at pre-
sent to 20 into this matter further,
but we intend to bring it home to
the understanding of the people and
they will then see how far they can
trust the men who are tying to de
feat this bill. We contesS that we
have no patience with those who.
rnr q littlr inl nov are willing 10 be